Heart Wrenching clear out advice

[Scruffie]

I say clear out, starting a new home fresh and building on it is much better than lugging crap and having it get in the way and taking up space.

Just keeps what's important.

[D.o.S.]

I'm going through the same thing with a baby on top. My pedals have been reduced to those that I gig with, and those that hold personal value to me (etched Bitquest from Ryan, Big Green from ARC), and 3 other pedals that I use for recording. I will echo that my board has gone from very elaborate with lots of fun toys to utilitarian (while still having fun). It's forced me to be more creative in the 1 hour or so a week I've been able to actually sit down with stuff outside of work and sets. Do I still want stuff? Absolutely, all the time. But I really rationalize purchases now, how they will be used, how they will be paid for, etc. It's to the point that I am happy with what I have, so if I want something else I really have to ask myself if it's worth sacrificing something that I already really enjoy and use to get this or that. It's helped immensely

You put a baby on top of your house?!

[Chankgeez]

It's like having a cherry on top except with more crying and baby vomit.

[D.o.S.]

Clearly we don't buy our cherries from the same stores.

[tuj]

Ian:

Sell what you don't love, but absolutely keep what you do. I sold a half-stack one time because I was moving; regretted it and ended up buying the same amp and cab again later....at about 3x the price! If there are pieces you love, keep them. If there are pedals you haven't played in a year or more, its probably time to move on.

Houses are of course mega-expensive, but you don't have to do everything at once. Add 1 piece of furniture a month or something like that to start.

[The_Active_Conundrum]

Such is the conundrum for all.

CONUNDRUM you say!? Well. Looks like something I can speak on with some Authority.

The real question is finding what your goals are. Sit down with a piece of paper (not a text file) and a pen (not a pencil) and stare at that empty or empty-except-for-lines page. Doodle some if you must.

What are your intentions and how will you accomplish them? How will you benefit?

Are you okay with never using the items you sell ever again? How much is useless sentimentality (as opposed to sentimentality with worth)? What replacements are currently availible or will be availible in the future, new or used?

Also. Can you really tell a difference? A real "this has to be just so or playing just isn't enjoyable/possible" difference?

I think you can find the answer to your Conundrum yourself. You know what to do, once you think about it. And you don't need to justify your choice with forum feedback. But if it were totally up to me, I'd tell you 'forsake earthly desires' and sell everything. Everything. You can always rebuild. Perspective locked by habit is wasted time.

[Gigahearts_FX]

which ones to cut

LOL

[John Matrix]

music gear > TV

all day

[oldangelmidnight]

Consider getting rid of the stuff that you could easily replace if you need it again. All the EHX, Boss, Way Huge. None of the Lovetone or small builder stuff.

[frigid midget]

DAMN. That should be more than enough to afford a nice home alight

Don't know what band(s) you're in, but if I were you I'd just build a good functional pedal board, without too much crap you don't actually need. Go for one do-it all board, with a focus on bang for the buck-ness, and forget about mojo or ilf cred or whatever.

Those lovetones are sweet and all, but just keeping them cause they're valuable or rare doesn't make too much sense impo. They're too big for the average pedalboard, they'll fetch you a lot of money, and they're easy enough to replace with clone/generic versions. I mean, a Cheese Source AND a Big Cheese and Brown Source?? Now you're just hogging all the Lovetones, you selfish hoarded

Definatelly keep what you love though, but if you absolutely LOVE every single one of those pedlols and you use them all regularly...You've got a serious problem

Also: Dibs on the Space Station

[Jwar]

Consider getting rid of the stuff that you could easily replace if you need it again. All the EHX, Boss, Way Huge. None of the Lovetone or small builder stuff.

Solid advice right here.

[UglyCasanova]

Maybe wait and see if you need to sell anything? If you do, listen to oldangelmidnight.

[Gigahearts_FX]

I dont really NEED to sell anything Im just aware of how much I have and how little I actually NEED

The Lovetone stuff I wouldnt sell, took me far too long to acquire and I adore it.
The Space Station has a lot of sentimental value. You can just get an XP all if you want those sounds (I have one of those, too!) but ill keep ol' yeller for ever
The FoxRox TZF is too hard to acquire again also, so that would stay. Some of the harder to get EHX too, like the MicroSynth and POG v1

Im considering getting rid of the Mobius - I only really use the chorus sounds, and I have the Cosmi. In fact I just rewired my board for the Cosmi and BitQuest in its place...
That and the HOG, as I have the POG and the Pitchfork now.

ho hum decisions decisions

[ChetMagongalo]

to put it bluntly, you have way too many pedals and should sell at least half of them. I really don't understand why people hoard pedals. I mean pedals are cool, but hoarding pedals is just excessive and a waste of space, time and money. Even if you can afford to keep them around, that doesn't mean it's necessary or a good use of your time.

like people who have multiple houses and cars, whats the point? status symbol? more money than you know what to do with? I'm not trying to grump you out or anything, that's just how I see it. I don't think I would ever own even close to that many pedals unless I was a full time studio musician or something. even then I bet I wouldn't own that many

[Gigahearts_FX]

to put it bluntly, you have way too many pedals and should sell at least half of them. I really don't understand why people hoard pedals. I mean pedals are cool, but hoarding pedals is just excessive and a waste of space, time and money. Even if you can afford to keep them around, that doesn't mean it's necessary or a good use of your time.

like people who have multiple houses and cars, whats the point? status symbol? more money than you know what to do with? I'm not trying to grump you out or anything, that's just how I see it. I don't think I would ever own even close to that many pedals unless I was a full time studio musician or something. even then I bet I wouldn't own that many

good perspective and I respect and value your opinion
not grumped at all. If it wasnt for UG I might feel differently though; he sets the ILF benchmark for "too many pedals"